Cutting a unirigger (the cross pieces welded to bottom of I beams)

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osage
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Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:40 am

Cutting a unirigger (the cross pieces welded to bottom of I beams)

Post by osage » Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:54 am

My 1973 double wide is sitting on a full basement foundation with concrete walls 8" thick. I am installing a bathroom in the basement with a shower/tub. One of the uniriggers (cross pieces welded to bottom of the I beams) is interfering with the installation of the greenboard for the ceiling in the shower/tub. The back wall and walls at both ends of the tub/shower are installed, plumbing is in for the shower/tub, studs and greenboard are installed. Taking down the walls and shortening the studs by 2 1/4" would be a monumental undertaking. I would rather cut out the one unirigger that is in the way. However, I don't want to cause structural damage and cause the I-beam to twist because that single unirigger is gone. Uniriggers are spaced every 6 feet. Can that one unirigger be removed without causing grey hair? :)

David Oxhandler
Posts: 1459
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:37 am

Re: Cutting a unirigger (the cross pieces welded to bottom of I beams)

Post by David Oxhandler » Sat Nov 03, 2012 4:32 pm

Outriggers are an integral part of the support system for manufactured homes. Yours was built prior to the adoption of the federal HUD code, so there is no telling what the construction standard was.

It is an old home if it is holding up good after all these years I wouldn't change any of the foundation support dynamics. A general rule of thumb says if you remove any support you must replace it. Before you remove any part of the steel frame get an engineer to have a look and make a recommendation.
David Oxhandler
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